As the weather changes this spring, so too will the face of two of Ferndale’s streets. East Nine Mile Road and Livernois Avenue are getting facelifts and “road diets,” with inclusion of bike lanes to fit in with the city’s Complete Streets plan.

“Making our streets work for people and cyclists, not just cars, has been a long-time city vision supported by residents,” said Councilwoman Melanie Piana, an advocate for the Complete Streets ordinance and improved public transit. “The recent Ferndale Moves! plan reinforces that bike lanes and safer streets are goals shared by a majority of residents and businesses. The Livernois project will enhance the quality of life for the neighborhoods along it and make the corridor more attractive for businesses.”

Construction is expected to begin this month that will take East Nine Mile from Woodward to West End from four lanes of traffic down to three – two travel lanes and one turn lane. The “road diet” will leave extra room for buffered bike lanes, landscaped medians and crossing islands. East Nine Mile will be completely resurfaced with the design elements added in, meaning that construction could last though the summer.

On Livernois, grant money will be used to create on-street parking and reduce Livernois to two lanes from Eight Mile to Nine Mile. The parking will help as new businesses develop along the Livernois corridor. There will also be a mid-block crossing added between Eight Mile and Fielding to make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, along with buffered bike lanes along the mile-long stretch. This project is not a complete resurfacing, but a more simple matter of repainting the lanes and adding in the crossing.

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The City of Ferndale launched its Ferndale Moves! program in December as a way to solicit public feedback on projects that affect how people walk, ride and drive through the city. The website ferndalemoves.com gives information on current projects, proposed plans and ideas, and methods for citizen feedback.

Mayor Dave Coulter is excited about the changes.

“Making Ferndale more accessible for bikes and pedestrians is an important part of our overall transportation plan,” Coulter said. “We learned in the 1990s downtown that reducing traffic lanes and adding other features doesn’t detract from people’s experience, it enhances it. And we’ve seen business development follow along the way.”